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Germany says three out of four Nord Stream

pipelines damaged beyond repair

GERMANY GERMAN authorities have said that the dam- submarines or advanced underwater technology
age to three of the four Nord Stream pipelines is must have been involved.
Sabotage is widely beyond repair and those sections can never be There is little doubt that this was an attack and
considered the cause. used again, The Tagesspiegel reported on Sep- not an accident, as there is a significant distance
tember 28. between the three holes in the three pipelines
German security services said that the three where the leaks originated and these all appeared
tubes of the pipeline will be unable to be used within a few hours of each other.
again unless they are repaired quickly, as a lot So far, pundits have suggested that Russia, the
of salt water will run in and corrode the pipe- US, Ukrainian special forces and Poland could
lines, The Tagesspiegel learned from government have been responsible.
circles. German Economics Minister Robert Habeck
According to the Danish Energy Agency, (Green Party) warned of the danger of further
more than half of the gas has already escaped acts of sabotage. “Of course, the critical infra-
from the affected lines. The lines will probably structure is a potential target,” said the Vice
be empty by October 2, the head of the agency, Chancellor. “But Germany is a country that
Kristoffer Böttzauw, said at a press conference on knows how to defend itself and Europe is a con-
September 28. tinent that can protect its energy infrastructure.”
The twin Nord Stream 1 & 2 pipelines, which Norway, currently one of the most important
are made up of two pipes each, were hit by an suppliers of non-Russian gas to Europe, has mas-
explosion at the weekend and sprang leaks that sively strengthened the protection of its pipeline
saw pressure in both sets of pipelines fall to system.
nothing. The European Union also considers sabotage
After Sweden’s seismological services con- to be the likely cause of the leaks in the Nord
firmed there was an explosion in the vicinity of Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines and has threatened
the pipes during the evening of September 25, to take countermeasures.
speculation has been rife over who was respon- “All available information indicates that these
sible for the attack on a major piece of European leaks are the result of a deliberate act,” said EU
energy infrastructure. foreign policy chief Josep Borrell the same day,
The explosions happened just outside Danish reported Tagesspiegel. Any intentional disrup-
territorial waters at a depth of 80-90m, according tion to Europe’s energy infrastructure will “be
to German reports, making an attack a techni- met with a robust and collective response.”
cally difficult operation and suggesting either As expected, Ukraine was even more explicit:

Week 40 06•October•2022 www. NEWSBASE .com P9